Sometimes a lot of good can come from a great tragedy.
College student Matt Heisler was only 21 when he passed away in a house fire at the University of North Dakota last March. His family found some comfort when they discovered that Matt had signed up to be an organ donor when he was 16.
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Thanks to Matt's decision, Vietnam veteran Tom Meeks, was able to receive a heart transplant after years on the waiting list at the Mayo Clinic. Meeks suffers from a rare disease called amyloidosis, and had been rejected for a transplant by five hospitals due to his age.
After his transplant, the Heisler family met with Meeks and listened to Matt's heart beating in Meek's chest. "Obviously, in my case, [the Heislers] are always going to carry a warm spot in my heart," Meeks said to KARE 11 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
According to KARE 11, Matt's donation helped more than 60 people -- his kidneys and liver were donated to three recipients. "We're very proud of Matt," Matt's father, Jared Heisler, said to KARE 11.
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